PRESS RELEASE
Razzaq to lead power-packed Pakistan at KARP Group Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2011
[Hong Kong, October 7, 2011]: All-rounder Abdul Razzaq will lead a Pakistan outfit brimming with experience and raw talent as they go in hunt of a fifth Cup title at the Karp Group Hong Kong Cricket Sixes.
Razzaq, a tricky medium-pace bowler who can also change the fortunes of a match with his bat, was originally slated to play for the All Stars but has instead opted to play for his country, losing finalists in last year’s memorable finale. The replacement for Abdul Razzaq in the All Star team will be announced shortly.
Pakistan holds the honour of being the first winners of the Hong Kong Sixes back in 1992. They then won it three times in a row, in 1997, 2001 and 2002, and perhaps only the three-year break after the handover year might have prevented them from being the side with the most number of wins.
They came close to matching England, five-time winners, last year but failed after a nightmare final over bowled by Imran Nazir, where he conceded 46 runs, handed Australia an improbable victory.
There are no survivors from last year’s team, and Razzaq and his men will be determined to put the record right from October 28-30 at the Kowloon Cricket Club,
He will have test stars Umar Akmal, a dashing batsman, and left-arm paceman Sohail Tanvir at his side along with talented newcomers Rameez Raja, Hammad Azam, Yasir Shah and Sharjeel Khan, some of whom have already been blooded in Pakistan’s test and one day squads on the recent tour of West Indies.
Both Akmal and Tanvir will be hoping to make a point that they should be called in for the One-Day Internationals and Twenty20 series afterwards.
The 21-year-old Akmal has scored 1003 runs in 16 Tests with an average of 35.82 including a century and six fifties.
“This is a very strong side. We all know what Razzaq and the more established players can do, but it will be interesting to see how the youngsters perform. I’m certain we will see amongst them the future stars of Pakistan,” said captain Shahzada Saleem, president of the Hong Kong Cricket Association.
Pakistan has been drawn in pool C alongside arch-rivals India, South Africa and hosts Hong Kong. The 12-team tournament also includes the All Stars who are drawn with Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Scotland in pool A while defending champions Australia head pool B which also comprises England, Ireland and Bangladesh.
Pakistan Squad: Abdul Razzaq, Umar Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Rameez Raja, Hammad Azam, Yasir Shah, Sharjeel Khan.
About the Karp Group Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2011
Organized by the Hong Kong Cricket Association since 1992, the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is the only international cricket event held in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Sixes is fully sanctioned by the world's governing body for cricket, the International Cricket Council, and title sponsored by Karp Group. An recognised "M" Mark event by the Major Sports Events Committee since 2007, the Hong Kong Sixes is being supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Commission's Mega Events Fund for the first time in 2011. The Mega Events Fund was set up in 2009 to support mega arts, cultural and sports events to be staged in Hong Kong.
With the support of the Hong Kong Tourism Commission’s Mega Events Fund for the first time in 2011, this year’s Karp Group Cricket Sixes 2011 is set to be the biggest and best clash in the 19-year history of the Tournament. The Hong Kong Sixes has also been recognised an official “M" Mark event by the Major Sports Events Committee since 2007.
Tickets can be purchased from the Hong Kong Ticketing website at www.hkticketing.com, the Hong Kong Cricket Association office in Olympic House, Kowloon Cricket Club, Hong Kong Cricket Club and at Jashan and DotCod restaurants in Central.
The tournament has been broadcast live since 2008 and in 2010 reached over 80 million households on the Indian subcontinent, across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia and South Africa, as well as being packaged for distribution in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe and China.
About the Mega Events Fund
The Mega Events Fund was set up in 2009 to support mega arts, cultural and sports events to be staged in Hong Kong. |
